I Don't Own Naruto

Sakura and Gai stood in front of the groups and signaled that it was time to go.

Neji, Chouji and Shikamaru stood next to Gai to form his team. Ino, Tenten and Hinata stood next to Sakura to form the girl's team.

Gai steps up to announce the plan, "ok everyone, it looks like everyone is well rested and ready to move, we need to move out as quickly as possible. We now only have one more day before our deadline, and Lee will be labeled a criminal."

Sakura nodded her head in approval.

Gai continued, "Neji and Hinata, you two use your byakugan to look ahead of us, I know u both can get at least a good ten miles ahead of us, so we need u two to see if there are any signs of Lee."

Neji and Hinata both nodded in unison and activated there Byakugan.

"I don't see anything" Neji gave a frustrating sigh

"NEJI…LOOK CLOSER!" Hinata yelled "right there, under that tree, eight miles ahead, it looks like a footprint"

Neji adjusted his gaze and closely looked at the ground, then, he saw it.

"Your right Hinata, that's definantly Lee's foot imprint, I recognize that pattern anywhere" Neji responded with a high sense of hope

Quickly both teams set out, lead by Hinata and Neji

Neji was the stronger and led Hinata with the rest of their teams following ten feet behind

Chouji and Shikamaru were at the rear of the pack

"Come on Chouji, you gotta keep up" Shikamaru said to his teammate, trying to root him on.

"I'm trying Shikamaru, but I didn't get much rest, Ino kept nagging me about wanting to massage her feet because they hurt" Chouji responded looking down in shame.

"Honestly Chouji, I don't know why you do everything she asks, she treats you and me like shit as it is… you especially" Shikamaru said again and ended his side of the conversation

"I know…sorry" Chouji quietly responded, and pushed harder to keep up with everyone.

Tenten was racing to catch up to Neji and Hinata, but was only able to keep up with Sakura

"Wow, Neji sure is moving faster than I've ever seen him move" commented Sakura

"Yeah, I think he's actually worried we'd lose track of Lee, although he's too stubborn to admit it", smiled Tenten

"You know what Tenten? You just might be right" Sakura commented and smiled as well

Neji was hot on the trail, his gaze fixed on whatever footprints he could see with his byakugan

"This is the first sign we've seen for awhile, I can't afford to fail now" thought Neji

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Lee's side of the forest ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lee and Kiri were walking back into view of the camp site when Kiri's younger sister ran up to them,

"Kiri, Lee-san we finished making the herbal medicine" The little girl practically yelled and turned around and ran back to the camp.

"wow, she's energized today" Kiri joked

"haha, that is the power of youth I see in her" Lee laughed out loud and wore his trademark smile.

As the two continued on up the hill, Kiri's mother took notice of the two and called for her young son to ready the medicine.

"Son, will you please get the medicine we prepared for Lee. There still in the tent so put them in a red bag… AND DON'T GET THEM MIXED! We have no labels on them and they could get mixed with some of the other medicine we brought from the village" the Mother finished with a stern voice

"ok mom, I'll get them rea… CRASH!... uh oh" the boy finished, it appeared that he rushed and knocked over some of the bottles… and they all looked alike!

"uhh…I think it was these six containers" the young boy guessed, and put them in a bag.

Just as Lee and Kiri got to the tent, the young boy came up to Lee and handed him the red bag with the medicine.

"Thank You ! and , for this gift" Lee happily thanked the older couple and the young children

"No Lee, it's our way to say thank you for you coming to our rescue" Mr. Kazama explained

"Won't you join us for supper before you leave Lee?" Mrs. Kazama offered.

"Of course! Thank you, I would like that very much" Lee happily yelled

"Good, Kiri, be a dear and ready the bowls, the soup is just about finished" Mrs. Kazama happily instructed

"Hai, mother" Kiri smiled and went to her duty, but she still wondered if Lee would still leave, even after she and him…. Yeah, she needed to know.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Near the end of supper ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lee was finishing his fifth bowl of soup and looked at the family around the fire.

They looked so happy and content, part of him wanted to stay and be with this family and with Kiri, but another part wanted to continue with his quest.

As the day was nearing the evening, Lee stood up and smiled at the family.

"I thank you for everything you have done for me, and for all the kindness you have shown me. But I'm afraid I must get going now" Lee finished with a sad smile.

"what? Lee, your really leaving?" Kiri all but yelled, thinking for sure Lee would stay.

"But, I thought you wou.." Kiri was cut off by her father yet again

"Kiri, this young man has a quest he must go on, I know you do not understand it but I tell you that it is something every young man must face in his life." Mr. Kazama finished

"ye..yes father" Kiri finished with her head down

Lee saw that she was on the verge of tears.

", would it be ok if I had a conversation with Kiri in private?" Lee asked

Mr. Kazama was well aware that Lee and Kiri wanted to talk, so he smiled and nodded his head.

Mrs. Kazama gathered both kids to help her clean up while the father remained seated.

~~~~~~~~~~~ End Chapter ~~~~~~~~~~